Island Breath: Kauai Public Access Meetings

Detail of updated Puolo Point Plan offered Commission. Click on image for 1.1meg PDF file

The Open Space & Natural Resource Preservation Fund Commission (OSNRPFC) meeting held at the Hanapepe Neighborhood Center was a brief introduction of the commission to the public.

It was conducted by Leanora Kaiaokamalie (Commission staff person from the County Planning Department) who was supported by two commission members of the OSNRPFC; Barbera Childers (representing Waimea-Kekaha) and Jean Souza (representing Hanapepe-Eleele). In addition, there were County Planning department staff attending, including the Planning Director Ian Costa.

It was explained that the purpose of the OSNRPFC was to transmit annual recommendations to the County Council for prioritizing the acquisitions of land or other property entitlements and for the funding of projects related to;

1) Public outdoor recreation, including access to beaches and mountains

2) Preservation of historically important lands and sites

3) Protection of significant habitats or ecosystems, including buffer zones

4) Preserving forests, beaches, coastal areas and agricultural lands

5) Protecting watershed lands to preserve water quality

6) Conserving land to reduce erosion, floods, landslides and runoff

7) Improve access for the public and disabled for the enjoyment of public and and open space

Several members of the public who attended brought with them specific programs to suggest to the OSNRPFC for consideration; among them Arius Hopmann, Bruce Pleas and myself. Several forms for suggested projects were also collected by the OSNRPFC.

Of all the recommendations made by the public, several addressed the Puolo Point area that includes the former Burns Field Hanapepe Airport. I submitted a revised Puolo Point Master Plan that identified new land use designations that supported preserving wetland, grassland and forest ecosystems as well as identifying and preserving archeological sites and ancestral access to the shoreline.

For a PDF (1.1MG) file of the Puolo Point Plan click here. My cover letter to the OSNRPFC follows.

Open Space & Natural Resources
Preservation Fund Commission
Meeting in Hanapepe, Kauai on 9 December 2004

Aloha,
Submitted with this letter is a Preliminary Land Use Base Map Plan (dated 12/9/04) for the Puolo Point Area that I have developed in conjunction with some local residents. It certainly is not meant to represent a community mandate, but does identify some issues that are of concern to people living on the west side and using the area.

During World War II the area became a military encampment and has not recovered to this day. At the time the airport was “improved”, and much coastal wetland and shoreline grassland was lost. Wetlands and natural grasslands are rare things today on Kauai. Thousands of acres of such land once dominated the Mana Plain, but that is lost today.

Around Puolo Point much of the area south of the airport fence is an open grassland wilderness that has several Pueo owls, pheasants and other birds as residents. To the northwest and southwest of the airport are seasonal wetlands that have a varied population of wading birds from fall until spring, including Koloa ducks. All around the perimeter of the Puolo Point area is a fragile shoreline ecosystem that is used by a small population of people for everything from fishing to stargazing.

It is important that the public have free access to the shoreline. Free and open space is becoming rarer in Hawaii and should be left free and open. At the same time, rare and delicate living systems need to be protected as well.

There are legitimate recreational uses of the entire area and there needs to be a careful assessment of the environmental and archeological rarities and riches in the area. The General Plan was only a rough beginning. A good assessment will help assure the preservation and improvement of the area for current and future generations of people and wildlife.

Juan Wilson

For previous article about and images of Puolo Point click here.

Deadline for suggestions for 2005 projects is December 13th
The Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission is taking suggestions for sites or projects to improve upon public access, open space, and natural resources preservation, pursuant to Chapter 6, Article 14 of the County of Kauai Charter. As much as possible, will you tell us what you know?

PLEASE USE ONE FORM PER SUGGESTION
For the Suggestion Form (a PDF document that is about 125K) click here.

For more information, please call:
Leanora Kaiaokamalie of the Planning Department at 241-6677
or by email at lkaiaokamalie@kauaigov.com

NEXT MEETINGS

Regional Meeting
Today, December 10, 2004 6:00p - 7:30pm
Lihue Civic Center, Piiikoi Building, Conference Room A & B

Review suggested sites based on Selection criteria
Tuesday, December 21, 2004 9:00am - 3:00pm
Lihue Civic Center, Moikeha Building, Rooms 2A & 2B

Have your voice heard!

The Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission is taking suggestions for sites or projects to improve upon public access, open space, and natural resources preservation, pursuant to Chapter 6, Article 14 of the County of Kauai Charter. As much as possible, will you tell us what you know?

PLEASE USE ONE FORM PER SUGGESTION.

For the Suggestion Form (a PDF document that is about 125K) click here.

SUBJECT: PUBLIC ACCESS MEETINGS ON KAUAI

SOURCE: JUDY DALTON dalton@aloha.net

POSTED: 1 December 2004 - 7:00pm

Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission

Is there a beach or other recreational area that you can't get to because it's not accessible? Let the newly formed Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission know about it. There will be 3 regional meetings held to allow the public to suggest sites and projects at the following times and locations:

Kilauea Neighborhood Center
Wednesday, December 1, 2004 6:00-7:30pm

Hanapepe Neighborhood Center
Thursday, December 9, 2004 6:00-7:3pm

Piikoi Building Conference Room A & B, Lihue Civic Center
Friday, December 10, 2004 6:00-7:30pm

You are encouraged to fill out the enclosed form and name the access which you'd like opened to the public (such as Papa`a Beach) or a special place you'd like to see preserved (such as Maha`ulepu). Just click on the attachment below and send it in (address is included) before the deadline of December 13. (One form per access or preservation site, but you can print as many as you like.)

If you cannot open it, please contact:
Leanora Kaiaokamalie of the Planning Department at 241-6677
or by email at lkaiaokamalie@kauaigov.com

Please let the County know that you'd like access to Papa`a Beach. They really need to hear that it's a priority to a lot of people in order to encourage them to continue any efforts to open it up. They're ready to listen!

The public is also invited to attend the Commissions meetings:
Meetings to be held at the Lihue Civic Center, Moikeha Building Rooms 2A & 2B

Schedule of Regular Meetings December 2004

Commission Education Session
Wednesday, December 8, 2004 9:00 a.m.-12:00pm

Review suggested sites based on Selection criteria
Tuesday, December 21, 2004 9:00 a.m.-3:00pm.

For more information, please call:
Leanora Kaiaokamalie of the Planning Department at 241-6677
or by email at lkaiaokamalie@kauaigov.com

Hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to have your voice heard.

For the Suggestion Form (a PDF document that is about 125K) click here.